The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-26
SHE Is MADE ELIGIBLE.
MR.. SCHUYLER DECIDES THAT THE
THISTLE MAY SAIL

lI1o 1AE MA oAlL.
The Discrepancy in the Report on the
Length of Her Waterline Accepted
in Stating Dimensions Would Ordi-
nerily Vitiate Racing Agreement.
New York, Sept. 25.-At a meeting of
the New York Yacht Club last night it was
decided to refer ths eligibility of the Scotch
yacht Thistle as competitor in the Amer
ica's cup race to George L. Schuyler, as
umpire. Mr.. Schuyler was handed the
measurements as made by the committee
and Mr.. Bell, and his report to-day is as
follows:
New YORK, Sent. "a, 1887.
James D. Smith, Esq, Chairman An,erica's
Cup Committee NetO York Yacht Club.
My reply to the questions submitted to me by
you and Mr.. Bell is as follows: The clause in the
deed of gift, which requires, besides the Custom
House measurement. the statement of the di-
mension of the vessel, is intended to convey Just
the idea of capacity at the same time without
reference to any rule to racing tonnage
which may be in force at the time the
challenge was given. The length of the load
water line is an essential element. II was fur
nished by both the Genesta and Galatea, and
had it not been given by the Thistle the commit
tee should have demanded it before the terms
Of the match. Mr. Bell did however, furnish the
load water line of the Thistle, Notwithstanding
his misapprehensions of the necessity of doing so
for the reason, as stated by himself, that il the
information was withheld, it would be impossi-
bic to determine, with any approach to accu-
racy the power of his boat, a reason which
proves the necessity of the load water line being
factor in giving the dimensions of the vessel
as well as a desire of Mr. Bell to do everything
in his power to make a fair trial between
the contestants for the cup. Your second ques-
ton refers to the discrepancy between the load
water line of the Thistle, as furnished by the
letter of March 49, 1887, about S5 feet, and the
actual measurement made in New York S6 49,
The subject of the load water line of vessel
commission is accurately official, but before
launching, as was the case with the Thistle,
there was no course to the owner but to apply
TO his designer for the necessary information.
This was done, and the certificate of the de-
signer was forwarded, stating tha5 it was I'M
possible to give exactly the water line length
This, however. is her designers length. and
when she is afioat and in racing trim
have no reason to expect that it will
sr BE more Tha than an inch af or two
giving the dimensions of yacht challenging
for cup is so great that any decision reached
in any one case cannot be used as precedent
in any other which may arise; any great error
in any of the dimensions, whether through
mistake or design would vitiate the agree
ment. A small one ought to be
always on the liberal side, although the varia-
tion between the stated and actual load water
line is so large as to be a great disadvantage to
only rely upon the statement of his
designer, he cannot in this particular
case be held accountable for the re.
markably inaccurate information received
from him and l therefore decide that the vara-
ton is not sufficient to disquaify him from start
ing the Thistle in the race agreed upon.
Respectfully yours, GEORGE l.. SCHUYLER.
The above report is entirely satisfactory
to all the members of the Americas Cur
Committee and the New York Yacht Club.
MR.. wATsoN's PROTEST.
In reference to the decision of Referee
Schuyler, who was appointed to pass upon
the alleged discrepancy in the Scotch cutter
Thlstle's dimensions at the water line,
George L. Watson, the Thistles designer,
tonight issued the following protest:
AS Mr.. Schuyler's reply to the Chairman of
the American Cup Committee has been made
public, and as that reply will doubtless be print
ed by you, would venture in my own defense
to say word or two regarding the final
paragraph, which reflects, in some
degree at least, on myself. Mr.. Schuy-
Bell from all blame in the matter, placing it
with perfect justice on Ibis designer but, as
he previously implies than error has been
made, through mistake or design, it becomes
necessary for me to protest against at least half
of this insinuation. Just here let me say | feel
sure this paragraph is simply infecitous. Mr..
Schuyler is too high-minded a gentleman, and
too honorable gentleman, to entertain unwor-
thy suspicious of others. At the same time
some of the readers of his decision may inter
pret it otherwise. While, then the Thistle
has been sailed in Britain, she will be here,
at a line lower than her designed draft,
and is consequently from her great over
hang forward and aft, one foot five and half
inches longer than intended or supposed
she would be, | most emphatically deny. that
had any intention that she would be longer or
shorter than the 81 feet she designed
for. She is a new type of boat, built under
ito mel new tonnage law and after getting her
into sailing trim.the yacht-racing Association
official measurer found her TO be S6.40 feet long
or three-auarters of an inch shorter
found her to be. The New York Yacht
Club scale of time allowance is sup
posed to adjust all difference of length and
sail area and was devised for that purpose. II
under this rule extra length be an advantage il
would be as unfair 10 accuse Mr. Burgess OF
unchivalrous conduct in designing the boat ter
and half inches longer than the vessel he
expected to meet as to blame me for meeting
the Volunteer with "a boat which, inadver
tently is seven inches longer than the Volunteer
While throughout this contest have maintained
such secrecy as semed to me advisable
tas whist player has every
right to conceal his own hand
would rather lose all chance of the cup thar
that one of the many millions of that people
which Charles Reade calls 'the most generous
nation under the SUM- should suppose we tried
for 10 except in a strictly honorable way. Ii
their hands | confidently leave the matter
am, sir, faithfully yours,
G. l.. WATSON.